Couples for Christ Oceania
leaders conference
by Lyn Canillas
FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU....
From the sky, as one enters New Zealand
through Christchurch, one will be greeted
by the snow capped mountains of the
Southern Alps of the South Island of New
Zealand. A country rich in natural
resources (including gold) and set in varied
terrain and landscapes (as seen in the
trilogy "Lord of the Rings") and rich in
Maori tradition and culture and most of
all known for it's "kiwi"and bungy jumping,
was the location for the 6th Oceania
Leaders Conference of Couples for
Christ.
A sacred Maori welcome "Powhiri" greeted
the 500 delegates of the 6th Oceania Leaders
Conference. It was exciting as this is the first
Oceania Conference held outside of
Australia. New Zealand is the first in the
Oceania countries to host a CFC Oceania
Leaders Conference. It was exciting with
delegation coming from Papau New Guinea,
Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand.
The creative presentations and fellowship
added additional flavour to the main course
of the conference which is the talks and the
sharings. Everyone had the most fun dancing
away at the GK770's, a celebration of
our being as one in our fight for freedom and
courage - to be brave hearts!
Denis Reyes in talk 1 "Courageous Living" calls us all to get out of our comfort zones to make a change and to do greater challenges. In talk 2, Jack Burgoyne stressed that if "fear" is allowed we will be unable to lead to victory the fulfilment of our mission. Let us all shed our fears! We have to rid of our fears to reach our goals. In our response to God's call, we can only be strong and come to heroism and go all out for God. This was emphasized by Beng de Leon in talk 3 "Brave heart." As Couples for Christ leaders we trek the path of the brave heart of all - Jesus Christ - who walked the path of courage and sacrifice, giving all and fighting to the last for love of country and of God. At the end, each participant marked their thumbprint to symbolize one's commitment in answer to our call to be "brave hearts." The fourth session "Freedom" opened with a parade of the flags of Oceania countries. Joe Tale, a member of the CFC International Council, exhorted that the true meaning of freedom is living a simple lifestyle, sharing resources and being an active advocate in the work for the poor. Together let us build a world that is free and pass on to our children a future of freedom. In the last session, "Sound the Trumpets" Dylan Wilk heralded that as Couples for Christ we fight to the end. We should never give up. We are called to lead our people to victory. We are going to do this for the rest of our lives.
For Auckland, New Zealand, it was stepping
out of their comfort zone and overcoming all
their fears in opening their country to host
this big event. They have indeed joined the
ranks of God's army to be 'brave hearts!!!!!
New Zealand was not alone for the whole of
Australia and Oceania region trekked back
into their respective areas with courage and
freedom to go on as "brave hearts" in the
army of God conquering new areas for
HIM!